“Good Times” was a great show during its time and still is today. One of the most memorable scenes from the show was when James Evans died and Florida’s reaction to his death, “damn, damn, damn!” Many of us were shocked but the person who was more shocked than any of us was John Amos.

Amos knew the power the show held and was not shy when it came to voicing his opinion. He discussed why he was written of the show, in an interview with American Archive of Television: “I felt that with two other younger children, one of whom aspired to become a Supreme Court justice—that would be Ralph Carter, or Michael—and the other, BernNadette Stanis she aspired to become a surgeon. And the differences I had with the producers of the show … I felt too much emphasis was being put on J.J. and his chicken hat and saying ‘dy-no-mite’ every third page, when just as much emphasis and mileage could have been gotten out of my other two children…” Amos stated.

This is a great example of why we need our own television networks. It opens the door for black people to create the type of programming they believe will be effective and motivational to their people. The “Good Times” audience, who we can assume were predominantly black, could have been moved and inspired by the stories that could have been created for Michael and Thelma, a Supreme Court justice and a surgeon. But the producers thought it would be for J.J. and his antics to be the highlight of the show.

How powerful would the show have been if it focused on a future Supreme Court justice and surgeon??